Faarooq Mu’min Mansour (a.k.a. Andrew D. Lee)
The following is an overview of the wrongful conviction of Faarooq Mu’min Mansour (a.k.a. Andrew D. Lee), a former Ohio State Buckeye and Cincinnati Bearcat football player. I ask that you please read it and assist Faarooq with his quest to win his freedom. Contact him and discuss his injustice on your social media platforms. Show Faarooq the same support you would show him if he were scoring touchdowns for your favorite teams.
Wrongfully Convicted Former Football Standout Seeks Justice
On March 24, 2002, the worst experience Faarooq Mu’min Mansour ever experienced took place when over three dozen police and SWAT officers surrounded his parent’s house to arrest him on an outstanding warrant for several felony charges. These charges consisted of multiple aggravated robberies and aggravated murder. Not knowing the victim or anything about the incidents mentioned in the warrant, Faarooq took the ordeal to be a case of mistaken identity. With the advice of his father, he allowed the authorities to handcuff him and take him into custody for questioning without any physical or verbal ruckus. Unbeknownst to Faarooq and his father, he would not be returning home that day.
A year later, in Ohio’s infamous Franklin County Common Pleas Court, Faarooq was railroaded and convicted in a racially and prejudicially motivated trial and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. What’s so appalling about his case is that he was never given a chance to prove his innocence through expert forensic analysis, eyewitness testimony, or even substantial and circumstantial evidence. Had he been afforded his constitutional right to do so, the cumulative evidence would have clearly proven his innocence.
As of this writing, it’s been almost 17 years since Faarooq was wrongfully arrested and he still proclaims his innocence. He seeks to regain his freedom by overturning his wrongful conviction. As you read the following vindicating facts, ask yourself: What would you do if it were you, a relative, or a friend that was entangled in a web of injustice like Faarooq’s and nobody within the judicial system cared?
If your answer is that you would engage in a legal fight for your or their freedom, then Faarooq, his family, and supporters ask that you help them publicize Faarooq’s story by telling it to the media, state, and local elected representatives, as well as by discussion Faarooq’s situation on all of your social media platforms.
Blind to the Vindicating Facts
In the Franklin County prosecutor’s overzealousness to prosecute Faarooq’s case, the prosecutor lost sight of justice and focused merely on obtaining a conviction in a high-profile case. Although a conviction was obtained (albeit a wrongful one), there were enormous gaps and discrepancies in the State’s timeline. Additionally, there were conflicting testimonies given by the State’s witnesses, all of whom were bought, i.e. their fabricated testimonies were purchased. Some of the most egregious problems in Faarooq’s case are as follows:
The suspect was described as being a height of 5’10”, weighing 174-185 lbs., clean shaven, low haircut, and wearing tan khaki pants with either a dark green or dark blue shirt. Faarooq, however, was 6’2″ tall, weighed 220 lbs., and had a long beard and long hair.
Multiple witnesses gave conflicting statements regarding what the suspect was doing and wearing during the commission of the crimes.
Bank photos of Faarooq, taken an hour before the crimes were committed, were used by a witness to identify what Faarooq was wearing. This description, however, did not match the description of the suspect that law enforcement were looking for.
Pictures in a photo lineup that were used to identify Faarooq after being arrested were not recent photos. The pictures, instead, were pictures that were taken five years earlier when his hair was much shorter.
The gun (9mm) used during the commission of the crimes was found in the possession of a career criminal from Columbus, Ohio who was a state and federal informant in Atlanta, Georgia. He was never charged.
Three witnesses were given separate deals, which consisted of their charges being dropped in other cases in exchange for providing fabricated testimonies against Faarooq.
Two witnesses — a father and son — perjured themselves when they took the stand and denied tailoring their story prior to the police showing them photos of Faarooq in a lineup.
A key witness, who was in protective custody, gave three contradictory statements to the police during a pretrial hearing and during the actual trial.
There is existing proof of how prosecutors committed prosecutorial misconduct to secure Faarooq’s conviction. This misonduct was done by coercing witnesses to falsely testify against their will, and by withholding exculpatory evidence, et cetera.
The coroner in Faarooq’s case was later fired from his job in Minnesota due to repeatedly lying to secure convictions in various other cases.
Critical exculpatory evidence was withheld from Faarooq by rogue prosecutors.
Bio, Update, and Conclusion
Faarooq Mu’min Mansour (born as Andrew D. Lee) was born November 27, 1981. He is a graduate of Brookhaven High School in Columbus, Ohio and was a nationally recognized football player who briefly attended Ohio State University, as well as the University of Cincinnati. Additionally, Faarooq was an avid volunteer and a mentoring role model to the youth in his community. He aspired to become a professional football player, coach, and a teacher. Despite his imprisonment, however, he continues to be productive and has taken up apprenticeships in culinary arts, barbering, coaching, and fitness training.
Today, Faarooq’s case is at a standstill due to the denial of his motion request for a new trial. He has, however, been back to court twice on appeal and in this process, he has seen his sentence modified and then later re-modified back to the trial judge’s original mandate. Throughout the course of all of this, it is also interesting to note that a private investigator accumulated several affidavits of favorable evidence on Faarooq’s behalf, as well as discovered favorable evidence that was left at the scene of the crimes but never made known to Faarooq or introduced at his trial.
Currently, Faarooq, his family, and supporters are seeking competent counsel to fight for him and aid in the forming of a legal coalition on his behalf to represent him in the filing of a Motion for Appeal.
While Faarooq has gained some legal support, he still needs more and has yet to gain the popular support of his community and the media. Through your advocacy, you can help Faarooq win his freedom and return home to his loving family and friends. You can do this by doing any or all of the following:
Make a financial donation for Faarooq’s legal representation
Organize freedom rallies and pledge drives
Organize letter/email writing campaigns to the media and state representatives
Create online petitions
Disseminate information about Faarooq’s injustice via social media and other Internet sites
There is strength in numbers, and by amassing a massive contingency of concerned citizens, the travesty of justice that has condemned Faarooq to a life of imprisonment can be undone and remedied. With this being said, please join the fight to free Faarooq Mu’min Mansour, who is, in addition to being an innocent man, a loving son, brother, and a father.
“Whenever a member [of the human race] is down, pick him up. Whenever he wants genuine help and you can help him, do so. Never leave him stranded and friendless. If you cannot help him yourself, send him someone who can help him. But put around him the arm of protection and keep him from going wrong and feeling absolutely friendless.” Marcus Moziah Garvey, educator and entrepreneur (1887-1940), whose various teachings encourage and inspire Faarooq daily.
For more information, please contact Faarooq (Andrew D. Lee) and/or his parents at the following:
Andrew D. Lee, #447-246 Toledo Correctional Institution 2001 East Central Avenue Toledo, Ohio 4360
Contact Faarooq via JPay.
Harold and Cynthia Lee 3802 Ashton Road Columbus, Ohio 43227 Phone: (614) 237-1839 Mobile: (614) 260-1644 Fax: (614) 236-2796